work the skirt

Dress: J. Crew

Day 22: Last Tuesday I did something crazy and wore a skirt under my dress, instead of over it. 

It was a bold move, but I was feeling risky, and felt the need to try it out.

I got the idea from another blogger friend (Stephanie of Anie Inspired) who made this post, featuring a Frocktober outfit that layered a classic black dress with a cat-print skirt underneath it. 

I've seen ruffled and laced slips used beneath dresses in the same way, and it can be a really great tool to lengthen shorter dresses! But for people like me who have yet to invest in a fancy slip, this is a great alternative.

It can also add an extra layer of warmth, which I'm definitely going to need! Today I decided that it has finally hit the morning temperatures that require a coat and gloves before leaving the house.

Day 23: Wednesday was a comfy day for sure. I reached for the closest cozy sweater I could find, and happily it was this bright pink one!

Dress (remixed): Ruche, Sweater: LOFT, Booties: Urbanog

I was still working through my cold, and knew all of my makeup would most likely be gone by lunchtime. I wanted something easy and comfortable, but still interesting! The result was this multi-layered outfit that was bright and oh-so-comfy.
This floral dress has seen a lot of wear in my closet.. I love the colors, it's comfortable, and it's easy to put together with other things in my closet. A floral dress is definitely something every girl's closet should have. In my humble, floral-loving opinion.
I wear this one with jeans often, because it's on the shorter side. It looks really cute with my pineapple colored pants, too!

the gatsby car

Frocktober, day 3!

I love movies where an inanimate object seems to have a life of its own - its own stage presence, even a character identity of sorts. 

One of the greatest examples of this is Wilson the Volleyball from Cast Away. 

TV shows also tend to take advantage of the sentiment or silent characterization a single object can have - I think back to the series finale of Friends, when they move out of the apartment and it feels like you're losing someone incredibly dear to you. 

Wearing this dress yesterday, my friend (who's in town from Arizona for my birthday week!) said, "That print is like you're covered in Gatsby cars!"

I'm totally fine with wearing anything Gatsby related, by the way. 

In any case, it's totally true. This dress is like a girly, retro-fied version of a Gatsby car print.

Gatsby's car is one of those inanimate object characters that totally steals the show every scene. It's one of the main tools used to define Gatsby - in all of his epic wealth and tragedy. 

It has a presence all its own, and even manages to be at the helm of a very important plot twist!

Dress (shop!)(remixed)/Top: Ruche, Jacket: LOFT, Earrings (similar): Noon

What are some of your favorite "characters" from movies/TV shows you love?

I think I'll be spending the rest of my work day listening to Lana Del Rey on repeat.

pink challenge

Due to my last post involving a monochromatic outfit featuring the brilliant color pink (where I jokingly mentioned needing pink tights to actually complete the look), a friend of mine has challenged me to try and make pink tights work.
It's going to be tricky, I think. I actually have a pair of bright yellow/mustard tights which I've only worn once - I tend to view tights as a neutral warming accessory, rather than a statement color.
I'm currently wearing a dark purple tight and I'm feeling wild. 

But here are some of my ideas.
I'm going to accept the pink tights challenge, because what better week to try them out than Valentine's Week?

Besides. Let's be honest. Anything that Zooey Deschanel does, I'm bound to want to do.

Pink tights have totally been done before. Really badly, most of the time.
What I need to do is avoid this:

And I think we'll all be better for it.

Other pink-tighted celebrities:

No, no, Paris.

I went around and peeked in on some other bloggers, trying to find inspiration. I needed to know if there was a look I could love from the various attempts at climbing the perilous slope of pink stretchy leg covers.

Slanelle Style

What I Wore

Fi and Me

The Sun Was High.
Orange tights, but the spirit remains.

The Styling Dutchman

I gotta say I was pleasantly surprised.
I think #2 is my favorite, because black/white/hot pink is fierce. And always fun to look at.

Overall, I think this research was fruitful. We'll see how this story ends later this week, when my own outfit is revealed to you all.

Wish me luck! (Any advice?)

Until then,
Cait

monochromatic: blushing pink

I love a great monochromatic look.
There's something really bold about it - almost tantalizing, like it's against the rules somehow.
Kind of like my childhood leopard outfit debacle, it's usually a terrible idea to compose an entire outfit out of the same pattern or color.
But at some point, someone came along and proved that monochromatic can be absolutely fierce, stylish, and can accomplish a really unique fashion statement.

Mara over at M Loves M created a monochromatic outfit in blue, and she was actually the inspiration for my compilation!

If I was really dedicated, I would have donned some pink tights and pink shoes, but I think that would've killed the moment. And maybe scared the neighbors.
Being my first attempt, I settled for a pink and brown look, with the leopard watch as the accent pattern.
Leopard is my favorite.

Dress: Gifted/Kohl's, Sweater: Gifted/LOFT, Necklace: Gifted
Tights: Target, Shoes: Poetic License (on sale)
Watch: La Mer, Target (shop!)

I seriously could wear a cable knit sweater like this every single day.
Dress it up or dress it down.
So cozy I could sleep in it.
This entire outfit is made up of various gifted items. My birthday dress from my best friend Becky, this bright pink sweater from my mom, and the necklace for Christmas from my friend Allison.

Even from thousands of miles away, my mom finds ways to shop with me!
She sent me an happy box of new sweaters and accessories, just because. I miss mom and daughter times.

I'm spending the entire weekend reading and checking off my to-do list.
Friday was slow in coming, but now that it's here, I can't wait to get started on weekend projects!
I love how full of hope and potential the weekend is - most of the time, once Sunday comes, I realize I haven't done anything productive. BUT, it's always nice, on Friday, to wish and dream and plan all the cleaning, crafting, reading and daydreaming I'll be doing. :)